Troy commissioners approve contract for water line mapping ♥

As published in the Courier-Tribune on September 18, 2011

by Hugh Martin

TROY – The Board of Commissioners of the Town of Troy met for their regular meeting September 12, during which a $20,000.00 contract with the Withers & Ravenel engineering firm was approved. The contract calls for GIS mapping of the town’s water system.

“We have over twenty-nine miles of water lines in the Town of Troy,” said Greg Zephir, Town Manager. “With the retirements of some town employees it is becoming more difficult for workers to know where everything is located.”

Zephir said that, while $20,000.00 may seem expensive, the cost for each point in the system that will have to be mapped comes to only $15.00 each.

“After the mapping is complete employees can use a tablet computer anywhere in town to find the nearest shutoff valve,” Zephir said. “It will be more convenient for citizens of the town. If there’s a water leak on the east side of town why should the water on the west side of town be shut off too?”

Commissioners also passed an ordinance amendment concerning peddlers, vendors and contractors. The amendment is aimed at “peddlers, solicitors, transient vendors or contractors for pruning or removal of trees and shrubs.”

Zephir reported that there was a problem with transient vendors coming into town and cutting trees, particularly for senior citizens, and leaving a large mess for the town to deal with.

The ordinance will require anyone engaging in that type of business to register with the town and acquire all the proper permits.

In other recent business, Zephir reported:

• The town has been awarded $620,000.00 to increase the sewer capacity at the business center;

• Department of Insurance grant funds are being used to purchase pagers for the fire department;

• The town is working on a modification of a 1997 agreement with Montgomery County to allow one entity to do water sampling;

• Town staff is working on preparations for the Small Town USA Celebration, to be held October 22;

• Members of the promotions committee are working to host the Arts and Antiques in Autumn event

Expo is Golden Opportunity for job seekers ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on September 24, 2011

by Hugh Martin

TROY — With unemployment at 13.1 percent in Montgomery County, news of job openings is welcomed by anyone looking for employment.

On Thursday, Sept. 29, the Think Montgomery First Business Expo & Job Fair will be held from noon-6 p.m. at the James H. Garner Conference Center in Troy. The event, designed to showcase local businesses and the products and services they offer, was organized by the Montgomery Economic Develop Corp. (EDC) and the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce.

Judy Stevens, executive director of the EDC, said that nearly 40 businesses will be on hand to meet and greet Expo attendees. She encourages job seekers to dress appropriately and bring resumes.

“Many of the businesses are hiring new employees,” Stevens said. “This event is an excellent opportunity to see the various products that are produced locally and to talk with representatives of local service agencies.”

Entry to the Expo is free and there will be drawings for door prizes throughout the afternoon.

At the September meeting of the Town of Star Board of Commissioners, Richard Hinson, town commissioner and coordinator of the Small Business Center at Montgomery Community College, said he hopes that job seekers will take advantage of this opportunity.

“People who are out of work need to come,” Hinson said. “They need to look sharp, not with their pants drooping and acting out.”

Hinson said that a lot of companies that have recruited in Montgomery County in the past have been disappointed in the quality of the applicant pool.

“I have seen some recruiters just pack up and leave,” he said.

Hinson said that any business in the county that is hiring will be at the Expo. The event will offer the opportunity to meet and network with businesses that may or may not be hiring at the present.

Sponsors of the event include Montgomery County JobLink, Montgomery County Schools, Montgomery Community College, N.C. Employment Security Commission, Montgomery County government, Towns of Biscoe, Candor, Mount Gilead, Star and Troy, Montgomery Tourism Development Authority and FirstHealth Montgomery Memorial Hospital.

The Garner Center is at 210 Burnett St. in Troy. For more information or to participate in the expo, contact the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce at (910) 572-4300.

MCC resolution: No to consolidation ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on September 24, 2011

by Hugh Martin

TROY — Although some legislators have called it a “dead issue,” the Montgomery Community College Board of Trustees passed a resolution opposing a North Carolina community college consolidation.

A North Carolina legislative study released in June recommended that community colleges could save about $5 million a year by combining administrations at the smallest colleges with larger, neighboring campuses.

In the resolution, trustees state that the recommendation targets rural community colleges and that consolidation would make access more difficult for students. The resolution states, in part, “rural community colleges are the educational institutions most needed in our great state and have been largely supported by the local citizenry, business and industry and government in the construction of campus buildings, upkeep of facilities, philanthropy for scholarships and program development.”

MCC President Dr. Mary Kirk told the board that a meeting of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, co-chaired by Senator Jerry Tillman of Randolph and Montgomery counties, is scheduled for Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. in Raleigh. Kirk plans to attend the meeting.

Earle Connelly, chair of the Personnel Committee, introduced eight new staff members to the board: Gerald Clark, Electrical Electronics Technology instructor; Ed Hinson, HVAC instructor; Clare Cagle, Compensatory Education instructor; Mark Dye, Gunsmithing instructor; Andrew Ryan Flynn, Gunsmithing instructor; Andy Speer, Taxidermy instructor; Donald Clark, Criminal Justice instructor/BLET director; and Amanda Beaman, Medical Assisting instructor.

In other business the board approved:

• A list of capital improvement projects that could be undertaken if a one-quarter cent sales tax is enacted.

• Renovations for the Biology Lab and IT Department.

• Recommendations for the employment of Ernest Everington as system technician and Tim Kennedy as director of Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness.

• Travel requests for Dr. Kirk to meet with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in Alabama and to attend the SACS Winter Conference in Florida.

• The 2011-2012 Student Handbook.

• In-kind transfers of rifles and shotguns, valued at $656, to the Gunsmithing Program from Jim’s Gun Jobbery in Fayetteville.

Mid-Atlantic Woodsmen's Meet to give national exposure to MCC ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on September 20, 2011

by Hugh MArtin

TROY — Lumberjacks and jills from colleges throughout the Mid-Atlantic states will gather at Montgomery Community College in April for the Mid-Atlantic Woodsmen’s Meet and the Stihl Timbersports Competition.

The competition will be broadcast nationwide on ESPNU and the Outdoor Channel.

Michelle Haywood, Public Information Officer at MCC, updated the college’s board of trustees on the latest developments of the event, set for April 21-22, 2012.

At the September meeting, Haywood told the board, “After meeting with Stihl’s Event Marketing Specialist, Brad Sorgen, I’m excited about the amount of exposure MCC and Montgomery County will receive because of this event.”

Haywood reported that half-hour professional and collegiate Stihl Timbersports shows will be produced at the college and a minimum of six mentions of MCC and the Town of Troy will be made during the shows.

Stadium signage for MCC will appear on-screen during the broadcasts.

A 30-second MCC commercial and a 60-second “featurette” will air during breaks of the shows and event information will be posted on the Stihl Facebook page. Haywood said videographers will be filming throughout Montgomery County for scenes to be included in the promotional spots.

“The word has spread very quickly,” Haywood said. “I received a call from the Stanly County Economic Development Corp. who had heard about the event and wanted to be involved. I referred them to Montgomery EDC.”

Haywood said that the shows will air a minimum of three times, including the commercial and featurette, on ESPNU and a minimum of two times on the Outdoor Channel.

MCC has sponsored teams for several years and has had winners to move on in the competitions. A former student is now a competitor on the professional level. This will be the first year that professional lumberjacks have competed during the same event as the collegiate competition.

Forest Management Technology instructors Russell Strong and Mike Thompson have started planning and developing the stadium-area to be used. Stihl will provide funds to help the college prepare for the competition.

“This is shaping up to be quite a regional event,” Haywood said.

Star Elementary Running Club will sponsor 5K ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on September 16, 2011

by Hugh Martin

STAR — December 10 is shaping up to be a very busy day in the Town of Star. In addition to the annual Star Christmas Parade and U.S. Post Office Holiday Cancellation Open House, the town will be the site of a new Boy Scout Derby Race on Center Street.

At the Sept. 12 regular meeting of the town board, Star Elementary School Principal Vance Thomas requested permission from commissioners to hold a 5K race and youth walk on the same day. Several years ago, teacher Liz Hunneycutt organized a student running club, which regularly travels to 5K events in other areas.

“With the success of the Peachy Feet 5K in Candor a group has decided that they would like to try to organize one in Star,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the group was not seeking funding from the town but did want the support and credibility that the town could offer.

“In the event that the race turns a profit we would like to donate the proceeds to the town’s Parks and Recreation Department,” Thomas said.

Board members agreed to support the effort and Thomas will return to a future meeting with a flier and map of the route.

In other business, Commissioners Richard Hinson, George Kivett, Jennifer Fountain and Alice Clemens:

Were advised that the town’s new website was online at www.starnc.gov.
Discussed the need to prune shrubs around the “Welcome to Star” sign on South Main Street and to contact NCDOT about overgrown foliage on Clayola Drive.
Learned that pavement repairs had been made on some town streets.
Railroad ties had been delivered to the park for a volleyball court and sand will be purchased when funds are available.
Mayor Susan Eggleston reported that the Fly-In scheduled for Oct. 1 at the Montgomery County Airport in Star has been postponed until spring.
Police Chief Tracy Phillips reported that a new patrol car should arrive by the end of September.
The countywide Business Expo and Job Fair will be held at the James Garner Center in Troy on Sept. 29.
Gave the mayor authority to appoint a committee to administer a Community Development Block Grant on behalf of STARworks.
Heard a report from Commissioner Clemens that heat and air conditioning, electricity and carpentry projects are under way at the Pink House Heritage Center.

Mountaire will not use poultry litter for fuel ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on September 14, 2011

by Hugh Martin

CANDOR — Just two days before the Town of Candor was to hold two public hearings Monday to address zoning changes to allow Mountaire Farms to burn poultry waste at a proposed biomass energy facility, the company chose to pull the issue from the table.

A Mountaire Farms contractor notified Mayor Richard Britt that the company would use wood waste as its fuel, not poultry waste.

Brownie Newman, managing member of CHP Solutions, an Asheville company that would operate the proposed facility, notified Candor officials of the change in an email on Saturday.

“Rather than utilizing poultry litter as the fuel source for the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system at the Mountaire Farms Feedmill, we believe the best approach is to simply utilize wood waste as the fuel source,” Newman wrote.

Bill Bruton of Candor, who has been leading the opposition to the facility, wasn’t impressed.

Citing research figures Bruton said, “Wood incineration is four percent more polluting than a new coal plant, only 11 percent less polluting than a chicken-litter plant, and 48 percent more polluting than an existing coal plant.”

Bruton is opposed to any type of biomass facility being located within the city limits.

“While I suspect it’s true that wood puts fewer heavy metals into play, with the exception of sulfur dioxide, wood puts more of these particles in the air than a new coal plant and more carbon monoxide than an existing coal plant or poultry litter,” he said.

In the email, Newman said, “While we believe that many of the statements made over the past several months about the proposal to use poultry litter as a renewable fuel have been inaccurate and misleading, rather than extending the debate on those issues, we would prefer to move forward with an approach that can receive broad community support.

“In terms of using wood as the fuel source for the project, these types of wood heating systems have been used for many decades in North Carolina. There is a very large number operating all across North Carolina, including the local area.”

Judy Stevens, executive director of the Montgomery Economic Development Corp., said that Jordan Lumber Company, near Mt. Gilead, has been burning wood at their facility for years.

The Candor Planning Board met twice in August to consider two separate ordinance amendments, one that would allow the change of fuel sources by local industries and allow the generation of electricity by an industry for their own use or for sale to the local utility.

Candor commissioners say no to animal waste for fuel ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on September 14, 2011

by Hugh Martin

CANDOR — After Saturday’s notification that Mountaire Farms would use wood instead of poultry litter to make electricity to run its feed mill in Candor, the board of commissioners met Monday night as scheduled, held the public hearing and amended the town’s zoning ordinance.

The amendment was changed to prohibit the incineration of animal waste products, but the commissioners voted to allow biomass incineration in industrial-zoned areas.

The decision paves the way for Mountaire Farms, which operates a feed mill in the town’s city limits, to apply for a conditional use permit to construct a facility that would generate steam for plant operations and electricity to be sold to Progress Energy.

Mountaire had originally planned to burn poultry waste, which drew opposition from neighbors and people from as far away as Southern Pines and Aberdeen.

Prior to the hearings, Mountaire officials had met with Candor Mayor Richard Britt and had come to an agreement that the company would change their fuel source from poultry to wood waste.

“No chicken litter will be burned in Candor while I’m sitting in this seat,” Britt stated to the full house of citizens that crowded the meeting room.

The first person to address the board during the hearing was Chris Smithson, a town councilman from Southern Pines. He represented that board as he urged the Candor commissioners to “proceed with caution” and slow down the text amendment process until further research could be conducted.

The Mountaire facility is located near the headwaters of Drowning Creek, which is the primary source of drinking water for southern Moore County.

“North Carolina law provides that a conditional use does not require it to be safe, but that opponents must prove that it is unsafe,” Smithson said.

Bill Bruton of Candor, who has led the opposition, cautioned that even though chicken litter was no longer being considered by Mountaire, it was still considered biomass and could possibly be included for use by another company that may choose to locate in Candor in the future.

Although the public hearing was legally advertised in local newspapers, some Moore County citizens were upset with the process.

“I found out about this last weekend, which was a holiday, and I was mad,” said Carolyn Shaw of Aberdeen. “This was a stealth movement by the Town of Candor and we did not know about it. If something else comes up, you should let us know.”

Shaw told the board that companies like Mountaire and Fibrowatt are targeting poorer counties to build their plants.

“They don’t care about anyone’s health,” she said. “They are out for a buck. They are unreliable and you cannot believe what you are told.”

Fibrowatt is a company that had chosen a Montgomery County tract east of Biscoe to construct a large power plant that was to be fueled by poultry waste. That project has been stalled by the reluctance of power companies to sign a purchase agreement with Fibrowatt.

Concerns over the burning of wood over chicken litter were addressed. Bruton questioned the statements that a certain percentage of particulates would be captured by scrubbers in the smokestacks.

“If we’re told that 90 percent is captured, we have to ask, 90 percent of what?”

Bruton said that once a facility is up and running, “it would be difficult to rein it in if something bad happens.”

Commissioner Tim Smith said that he would support the amendment that the town was presenting as long as it was revised to exclude animal waste products as a fuel.

Brownie Newman of Combined Heat and Power, an Asheville company that will operate the plant for Mountaire, said that he thought that would be a good solution.

Following the meeting, Newman stated that his company plans to build a facility that would burn up to 70 tons of wood each day. When asked what would be done with the ash byproduct from the burning process, Newman said he did not yet know, but that he would have that information “within a few days.”

“Wood is not a regulated fuel source,” Newman said. “But, chicken litter is not regulated, either.”

In other business Commissioners Smith, Layton Booker and Tim Privett:

* Heard a brief report by Judy Stevens, Executive Director of Montgomery Economic Development Corp., in support of Mountaire Farms.

* Heard from N.C. Cooperative Extension Agent Danelle McKnight about the new Candor Downtown Growers Market, scheduled to begin operation on Friday, Sept. 16.

* Will make a $100 donation to the local Boy Scout troop.

* Tabled a decision on signage for the Candor Farmers’ Market until local vendors can be contacted for a price quote.